Breast Cancer Answers

Songs for Cancer Survival

2009-09-29T21:27:00.002-04:00

Cancer of any kind is a frightening and potentially life-threatening diagnosis. Many people have written songs about breast cancer survival. This song was actually written by someone who had dignosed with lung cancer but I thought it was particularly beautiful. What do you think?

Excellent Resources for Breast Cancer Treatment

2009-08-06T11:24:00.003-04:00

This National Cancer Institute (NCI) booklet (NIH Publication No. 05-1556) has important information about breast cancer.* Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in this country (other than skin cancer). Each year, more than 211,000 American women learn they have this disease.

You will read about possible causes, screening, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care. You will also find ideas about how to cope with the disease.

Breast Cancer in Men

Each year, about 1,700 men in this country learn they have breast cancer. Most information in this booklet applies to men with breast cancer. However, more specific information about breast cancer in men is available on NCI's Web site at http://www.cancer.gov and from NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER.

Scientists are studying breast cancer to find out more about its causes. And they are looking for better ways to prevent, find, and treat it.

NCI provides information about cancer, including the publications mentioned in this booklet. You can order these materials by telephone or on the Internet. You can also read them online and print your own copy.

Telephone (1-800-4-CANCER): Information Specialists at NCI's Cancer Information Service can answer your questions about cancer. They also can send NCI booklets, fact sheets, and other materials.
Internet (http://www.cancer.gov): You can use NCI's Web site to find a wide range of up-to-date information. For example, you can find many NCI booklets and fact sheets at http://www.cancer.gov/publications. People in the United States and its territories may use this Web site to order printed copies. This Web site also explains how people outside the United States can mail or fax their requests for NCI booklets.
You can ask questions online and get help right away from Information Specialists through LiveHelp at http://www.cancer.gov/cis.

Sonique and Breast Cancer

2009-06-28T23:29:00.002-04:00

Singer and DJ Sonique will have months of chemotherapy to treat her breast cancer, her spokesman has said.

Sonique has undergone two operations
The singer, whose real name is Sonia Clarke, was diagnosed with the disease earlier this month and underwent two operations last week.
Her spokesman, Stuart Watts, said: "Sonique's second operation has been successful and five months of chemotherapy will now follow."
The music star underwent surgery last Monday but doctors found the cancer had spread.
She went back into the operating theatre on Saturday.
The singer turned 41 yesterday and was said to be spending the day with her family.
Her new single, World Of Change, was due to be released next month and she had planned to Europe this summer.
Whether these will still go ahead will depend on her health.
Sonique, who was born in Crouch End, London, started her music career as a teenager with a reggae band Fari.

Kylie also battled breast cancer
In 2000 she hit the big time when her song It Feels So Good stayed at the top of the charts for three weeks.
She follows a list of famous women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer in recent years.
Kylie Minogue, Anastacia, Cynthia Nixon, Sheryl Crow and Olivia Newton-John are just some of the women who have fought public battles against the disease.

Music Therapy for Breast Cancer Patients

2009-05-08T22:27:00.003-04:00

Research on music therapy in people with cancer

There have been studies showing that music therapy can help people who've had cancer to feel less anxious, more relaxed, and to feel less pain.

In a very preliminary 2001 British study of music therapy in 29 cancer patients, participants felt a higher sense of well-being and less tension during one session. Researchers measured improvements in immune function and decreases in the amount of the stress hormone cortisol.

A 2001 study of 20 patients awaiting breast biopsy showed that, when some of the patients had a 20-minute music therapy session while in the pre-operative waiting room, their anxiety and respiratory rates were much lower than those of the patients who did not have a music therapy session.

In a small 1991 study in Utah, 15 cancer patients taking pain-relieving medicines were assigned to receive different kinds of music therapy for 6 days to find out if music could help to further reduce their pain. Results showed pain decreases in 47% of the patients.

Surgery Headphones are ready for YOU!

2009-03-03T15:22:00.009-05:00

Exciting news from Healing Music Enterprises! The headphones for surgery that I've been working on for so long are now ready! You can order them today by going HERE. You can also order just the music and download it onto your own iPod or MP3 player. Research has shown that people who listen to music through headphones:

require less anesthesia to maintain the same level of pain-free sleep

experience fewer anesthesia-related side-effects

get out of the hospital sooner

recover from their surgery faster

Don't wait another moment! These can be shipped to you overnight if need be but do not delay! You want to live every day of your life to the fullest!

Earphones Support Music Therapy, Breast Cancer Research

2009-02-22T22:59:00.003-05:00

The fourth Limited Edition design of chicBuds Swarovski Crystal Retractable Earphones was released on July 1, supporting Breast Cancer Research, adding to the three formerly released limited edition designs, including AIDS Awareness supporting Compassion International’s AIDS program, Lover’s Heart Series for Valentine’s Day and 2 More Hours Star Series supporting stats by the American Heart Association and in conjunction with ChicBlvd.com’s fitness campaign.The Breast Cancer Awareness limited edition design of chicBuds features a Swarovski Crystal-encrusted pink ribbon adorned on the retractable piece (in either black or white casing), complemented with crystals on the ear pieces for a total of 80 Swarovski crystals on the earbuds.Through the end of the year, chicBuds.com will be donating 10 percent of all sales from this design to the Susan G. Komen Foundation to help fund research for breast cancer.In addition, chicBuds.com whose earphones are compatible with any listening device, will also be donating product to those currently suffering from breast cancer … since listening to music helps reduce pain and relieve chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.This is based on the research by the American Cancer Society that states, “There is some evidence that when used along with conventional treatment, music therapy can help to reduce pain, anxiety and relieve chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. It may also relieve stress and provide an overall sense of well being. Some studies have found that music therapy can lower heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, depression, and sleeplessness.”While the founders of chicBuds.com are providing funding to help end breast cancer and are donating a product that will improve the quality of life for those impacted by the disease, they acknowledge that their contribution is just a small piece of the big picture in fighting this battle.

A Beautiful Song about Breast Cancer from Sarah McLachlan

2008-12-27T19:53:00.001-05:00

A beautiful song to help you...

A Serious Message from a Baby Girl!

2008-11-05T20:46:00.003-05:00

This is the cutest breast cancer email I have ever received - with a message!!

please.....

An Amazing New Glove to Detect Breast Cancer!

2008-10-15T17:43:00.000-04:00

by Patty Donovan (NaturalNews)

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Donna Glove is a special glove designed to detect breast lumps. It provides a safe and effective way for every woman to carry out breast self examination, especially women in high risk groups. Its special design magnifies the sense of your fingers allowing lumps the size of a grain of sugar to be detected. This is not possible with bare hand palpation.You perform a breast self exam the same way, you just use the Glove instead of your bare hands. Check from your collar bone and into your armpits and do both breasts. Since lumps can grow in a week, it is suggested to perform the procedure weekly. The Donna glove helps detect lumps, thickening and other subtle changes your bare hand may not detect. Full instructions are on the website below and are provided with the glove.The glove itself is a double layer of polyurethane with mineral oil between the layers. This allows for greatly enhanced ability to feel lumps. A clinical trial in Rome proved the efficacy of the glove.108 women were studied for nearly a year. These women all had previous lumps and were at high risk for developing breast cancer. They were split into two equal groups. Group 1 was issued a Donna Glove while group 2 continued to do self breast exams with bare hands.At the 6 month follow up, 84% (45 in each group) of these patients had recurrence of the lumps confirmed by mammography. Group 1, the group issued the Donna Glove had a 100% self-detection rate. In group 2, only 22 of 45 women had detected lumps with their bare hands.The significant difference in detection rate was present even after adjusting for combinations of age, method of detection and family history of breast cancer. Mammography upheld these percentages. The study concluded that in a population of potential breast cancer patients, breast self exam with the Donna Glove is related to a greater earlier detection and thus improves survival over bare hand self examination.More information on the glove and how to order can be found here:http://www.youcanpreventcancer.com/inde...

Are you at risk for breast cancer?

2008-07-20T10:39:00.001-04:00

Anything that increases the chance of developing a disease is called a risk factor. Risk factors for breast cancer include the following:

age
age at the start of menstruation
age at first live birth
number of first-degree relatives (mother, sisters, daughters) with breast cancer
number of previous breast biopsies (whether positive or negative)
at least one breast biopsy with atypical hyperplasia
Other risk factors, such as age at menopause, dense breast tissue on a mammogram, use of birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, a high-fat diet, drinking alcohol, low physical activity, obesity, or environmental exposures, are not included in risk estimates with the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool for three reasons: evidence is not conclusive or researchers cannot accurately determine how much these factors contribute to the calculation of risk for an individual woman, or adding these factors does not increase the accuracy of the tool appreciably.
Breast cancer may also be caused by inherited gene mutations. Hereditary breast cancers account for approximately 5% to 10% of all breast cancers. Specific hereditary predispositions for breast cancer, such as inheriting a mutation in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, are not taken into account in risk estimates with the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool. Although the tool performs well in clinics where women have a strong family history of breast cancer, more specific methods for projecting risk are appropriate if a woman is known to carry a breast cancer-producing mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2.
Researchers are, however, conducting additional studies to gather more data and to determine whether including information on other risk factors can strengthen the statistical model, called the Gail model, upon which the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool is based. Nonetheless, the current model estimates breast cancer risk accurately on average.

Please give a free Mammogram

2008-06-08T09:46:00.004-04:00

Your click on the "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button helps fund free mammograms for women in need — low-income, inner-city and minority women whose awareness of breast cancer and opportunity for help is often limited. Your click is paid for by site sponsors, and mammogram funding is provided to clinics throughout the U.S. through the efforts of the National Breast Cancer Foundation .
Early Detection: Do You Know The Facts?How You Can Help In Mere Seconds — Every Day The Breast Cancer Site provides a feel-good way to help promote awareness of breast cancer and provide free mammograms for women in need every day — through easy and quick online activities.
With a simple, daily click of the pink "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button at The Breast Cancer Site, visitors help to provide free mammograms for women in need. Visitors pay nothing. Mammograms are provided by our charitable partners.
Please remember to click every day to fund free mammograms and give hope to women in need. Every click counts toward the goal of early detection, which allows for the best possible treatment options. Thanks to Tony Dollars and his Compassion Network blog for this tip!

Modern Treatment for Breast Cancer

2008-05-02T14:12:00.002-04:00

As with the treatment of similar cancers, breast cancer treatment aims to keep safe the healthy tissue while simultaneously killing the cancerous tumor at its point of origination and any other cancers that may have spread to other parts of the body. With great thanks and gratitude to researchers and medical professionals, patients suffering from breast cancer now have more options for effective treatment. Of course these options depend on several factors concerning the type, stage, and size of the tumor found. Health professionals attribute this to ground breaking research, education of the general public, and early detection initiatives.

continued here

Chemotherapy for breast cancer can cause heart damage

2008-04-05T16:20:00.003-04:00

Recently I was informed that a family member has sustained heart damage as a diect result of chemotherapy for breast cancer. With just a little research I came upon this article that I wanted to share with my readers:
Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Increases Heart Damage Risk
NEW YORK JAN 05, 2006 (Reuters Health) - Chemotherapy, especially anthracycline-based therapy, for breast cancer in older women increases their risk of developing cardiomyopathy.
Doxorubicin and other chemotherapeutic agents are increasingly used in the adjuvant chemotherapy of breast cancer patients, the authors explain, but long-term sequelae in such patients have received little attention.
Dr. Dawn L. Hershman from Columbia University, New York City and colleagues evaluated chemotherapy use and cardiotoxicity among 5575 women 65 years old or older in the general population diagnosed with stage I or II breast cancer.
Increasing age and black race were associated with higher rates of heart disease in these patients, the authors report, and patients with heart disease before the breast cancer diagnosis were 2.4 times more likely to experience heart disease during follow-up.
After adjusting for these factors, women who received chemotherapy had a 22% increase in the rate of heart disease, a 55% increase in the rate of cardiomyopathy, and a 20% increase in the rate of congestive heart failure, the report indicates.
The combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy was associated with a slightly higher risk of heart disease (33%), the researchers report in the December 1st issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Among the chemotherapeutic agents used, doxorubicin was associated with the greatest increase in cardiomyopathy risk (2.5-fold), the results indicate. The incidence of cardiomyopathy in the first year after diagnosis ranged from 1.55% for women who didn't receive chemotherapy to 4.09% for women who received doxorubicin, the investigators observe.
"The elevated risk of cardiac disease associated with adjuvant chemotherapy, which has been observed among participants in clinical trials, is also present among elderly breast cancer patients in a population-based sample," the authors conclude. "Given the prevalence of anthracycline regimens in the current adjuvant breast cancer setting, some patients may benefit from increased cardiac monitoring."
SOURCE: J Clin Oncol 2005;23:8597-8605
Knowledge is power! We must inform ourselves! Hope this helps you and your loved ones!

Mammogram or MRI?

2008-03-26T16:37:00.002-04:00

In Most Cases, MRI Not Indicated for Breast Cancer Screening

Q: I'm still getting yearly screening mammograms, but I heard that breast MRIs are better at detecting breast cancer and have a lower radiation level than mammograms.

Should I start getting yearly MRIs instead?

A: Breast MRIs have very limited indications and have not been approved as a screening modality for most patients.

Screening MRIs are only indicated for those who are considered very high risk. You are considered high risk if you have a known gene mutation that significantly increases the risk for breast cancer (BRCA 1 or 2), if you are a probable carrier of this gene because of family history, or if you have a calculated lifetime risk of breast cancer greater than 20-25% (this is something your doctor can calculate for you).

"For most women at high risk, screening with MRI and mammograms should begin at age 30 years and continue for as long as a woman is in good health," according to the American Cancer Society. "But because the evidence is limited regarding the best age at which to start screening, this decision should be based on shared decision making between patients and their health providers, taking into account personal circumstances and preferences."
courtesy of www.healthlink.com.

Diet and breast cancer: connection?

2008-03-15T07:15:00.001-04:00

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A new study suggests that women who eat diets rich in meat and dairy may have a decreased risk of breast cancer, while those who bulk up on fiber, fruits and vegetables show a lower risk of ovarian cancer.
The findings, published in the International Journal of Cancer, add to questions surrounding the role of diet in women's risk of the cancers.
High alcohol intake has been consistently linked to breast cancer risk, but when it comes to other facets of the diet, studies have yielded conflicting results, according to the researchers on the current work, led by Dr. Valeria Edefonti of the University of Milan.

The most important suggestions are:
Maintain a healthy weight.
Eat a diet that's low in fat and includes lots of fruits and vegetables.
Avoid red and processed meats (ham, bacon, lunchmeat), simple carbohydrates, and salt.
If you have a baby, breastfeed for at least the first 6 months.
Don't smoke.
Avoid alcohol.
Do moderate exercise regularly (every day if you can).
Besides helping to lower your risk of breast and other cancers, following these recommendations will improve your overall health. There's only one of YOU and you deserve the best health and life you can have. You're worth it!

Breast Cancer and Depression

2008-02-22T20:36:00.003-05:00

(from an article by Patricia Lund, Ph.D.)
As women traverse the breast cancer path, depression is a common companion. For many women, questions naturally arise such as "Am I depressed, or is this a normal reaction to my diagnosis and treatment?" "Am I mentally ill?" "Is what I am feeling due to breast cancer or to chemotherapy or tamoxifen?" "What do I do about these feelings?"
Here, several women discussed the feelings they were experiencing. Common descriptions included not being able to get tasks done, being extremely tired or lacking in energy, having no motivation, crying a lot, not being able to concentrate, feeling that memories and decisions were moving in slow motion, or feeling chronically sleepy. Some complained of difficult adjustments in self image ("I don't know who I am anymore"), that life seemed blurry, like everything was on the other side of a glass curtain, or that life seemed too loose and open-ended, no longer comprehensible. In a colorful turn of phrase, one woman described her brain as feeling like it were made of Swiss cheese.
It is important to distinguish depression from sadness. Depression is much more than just being very sad; there is a deep sense of hopelessness which the depressed person sees as permanent. The person feels cut off from the emotional content of experiences, so that life loses its normal sense of connectedness. A depressed person often cannot remember that things were okay in the past, and may experience truly agonizing emotional pain. There is a distinct quality to clinical depression as compared to normal variations in mood; a loss of the sense of control which can in turn lead to increasing stress. Depression is often accompanied by physiological changes such as disruption of normal sleep patterns or changes in appetite.
In summary, the answer to the question "Can breast cancer lead to depression?" is a clear and unequivocal "Yes". If you suspect you or a loved one is depressed, there are many actions that can be taken. First, see a doctor or a qualified therapist who can provide an objective assessment of the condition. If there is a danger of feeling like ending one's life, it is necessary to obtain immediate help from a physician who specializes in crisis care to avert an irreversible action that is a result of the disease. It is important to carefully check for possible physical causes such as a thyroid condition, side effects of medications or menopausal changes. From this point on, there are many options to pursue including antidepressant medications, psychological counseling or therapy, acupuncture or herbal therapies, nutritional changes, and self-help groups. The important thing to remember is that depression after a diagnosis of breast cancer is normal, treatable, and can even help motivate positive changes in one's approach to and outlook on life.

Breast Cancer and Music Therapy

2008-02-14T21:53:00.001-05:00

There have been studies showing that music therapy can help people who've had cancer to feel less anxious and more relaxed, and to feel less pain.
In a very preliminary 2001 British study of music therapy in 29 cancer patients, participants felt a higher sense of well-being and less tension during one session. Researchers measured improvements in immune function and decreases in the amount of the stress hormone cortisol.
A 2001 study of 20 patients awaiting breast biopsy showed that, when some of the patients had a 20-minute music therapy session while in the pre-operative waiting room, their anxiety and respiratory rates were much lower than those of the patients who did not have a music therapy session.
In a small 1991 study in Utah, 15 cancer patients taking pain-relieving medicines were assigned to receive different kinds of music therapy for 6 days to find out if music could help to further reduce their pain. Results showed pain decreases in 47% of the patients.

The Importance of Early Detection

2008-01-26T07:14:00.000-05:00

You have heard about the importance of early detection, I'm sure, but how seriously do you take that? Are you due for a mammogram? Have you made monthly self-exams a routine part of your life? Most of us are in such a hurry all the time that's it's easy to postpone these things and say "I'll do that soon, but not right now." So many women that I know have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer that it has sounded an alarm in my life. I tell myself that I am not at high risk because I have no female relatives who've had it and I did breastfeed my three children for extended periods. But do I think that gives me a free pass not to have mammograms or do self-exams? Absolutely not!
Early detection can save your life and give you lots more options. Do it now.

Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy

2008-01-21T15:47:00.000-05:00

One of the first questions women must ask themselves is whether they want a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. Of course, most of us want the least invasive, safe procedure we can have and still be OK. So, what is a lumpectomy? And what is a mastectomy?
Many surgeons believe that small, local cancers usually are amenable to lumpectomies, which means removal of the tumor and its surrounding margin of normal tissue - rather than mastectomy, which removes the entire breast. Whether lumpectomy or mastectomy, patients with invasive cancers undergo a node-mapping procedure, in which a few lymph nodes are removed and examined to determine whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the armpit. In most cases, a lumpectomy is followed by radiation to prevent a recurrence. In some cases, patients also receive a course of chemotherapy or hormone therapy, he says.
The fact is, far more women will die of cardiovascular disease that cancer, but, of all the cancers a woman can get, most women fear breast cancer the most.

Welcome to Breast Cancer Answers

2008-01-20T23:44:00.000-05:00

I'm so glad you found my blog. Although I have never had a breast cancer diagnosis, I have worked with many women friends, relatives and clients who have had a breast cancer diagnosis. It has got to be terrifying and sometimes it has many misconceptions for the patients.

My goal is to cover most of the initial questions that a woman has and also solicit your comments and questions. I hope that you will find comfort and hope here. One of the initial questions is "how could I know if I migt have breast cancer?"

Early breast cancer usually does not cause pain. In fact, when breast cancer first develops, there may be no symptoms at all. But as the cancer grows, it can cause changes that women should watch for:
A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area.
A change in the size or shape of the breast.
A discharge from the nipple.
A change in the color or feel of the skin of the breast, areola, or nipple (dimpled, puckered, or scaly).
A woman should see her doctor if she notices any of these changes. Most often, they are not cancer, but only a doctor can tell for sure.